All the wrong reason episode 2

🌸ALL THE WRONG REASONS🌸
🌹EPISODE TWO🌹

“Hi Adrienne, this is mother.” Her Mom said on the other end of the line.

“Hi Mom. How are you?” She asked cheerfully. Everytime she gets a call from her mother, she tries her best to sound most cheerful. It was a defense mechanism probably, because she always feel glum after she puts the phone
down.

“Wonderful, Darling! Wonderful! Kimmy just got into Massachusetts General. And you know it isn’t easy. You have to be very smart and very good to be accepted there. She got in! I am so proud of your sister.” She said.

“That’s good for her. That will be nice credential for her.” She agreed.

“Yes. But I am worried about you, Adrienne. Kimmy I know I didn’t have to worry much about. She’s got everything going for her. I know she will be successful wherever she goes. But what about you? Are you not rethinking the career path you took? I mean, you can write anywhere, anytime, but to make a career out of it… it’s not really a cash cow.”

She sighed. She has been in this conversation before. In fact, she has always been in this conversation whenever she talked to her mother.

“Just because Kimmy is the smart one in the family doesn’t mean you have to give up your hopes of making it big in the future too. You could start as a secretary of a big firm.

Or you could look into broadcasting.”
Again Adrienne fell silent. “Everytime my friends ask me what you do, I can’t tell them that you were scouting around New York for restaurants and bars, and making an essay, being paid per word for it.”

“Mom, I’m doing fine. And I am not being paid per word in my job. In fact, I think I’m earning well enough.” She defended. She loves what she does and she has always been proud of her job. However, her parents never saw that.
For them, her writing for the magazine is not a career. If it is, then it isn’t a good one to start with.

“You have just bought yourself a fancy apartment you said? Who knows? Your career is not stable. You might not be able to afford that next month if your subscription went down. I am not saying that you are not good at what you do? But I can’t just seem to think what you are going to be in ten years. You are not even working for a newspaper.
It’s a magazine! You have to pray that there will be enough vain and brainless women in Manhattan so you can keep
your job. And I can’t particularly be proud of that in front of Troy’s parents. I mean, if you had something going for you like Kimmy does, I wouldn’t be embarrassed towards my future in-laws.”

“Mom, I need to go. I am running late for a… meeting.” She said.

“Alright, dear. It was nice talking to you. Call Kimmy one of these days. Congratulate her for her. And I’m sure Troy will get a into a good hospital as well since he is spending time with Kimberly a lot. Kimmy will give him a lot of
pointers. Alright. Goodbye.”

She cried when she hung up the phone. She felt that she has been trying all her life to win an affection and respect from her mother. And she still hasn’t managed to get any. She felt that no matter how hærd she tries, she will never be
as pretty and as successful as Kimberly.
She dialed Troy’s number.

“Hi, Yen. Have you heard the news? Kimberly just got into Massachusetts General. That is so wonderful! I am so proud of her.”

“Yeah, I heard.” She said glumly.

“My parents were so surprised. They didn’t know how smart she really is until now. They kept telling me what a lucky guy her boyfriend is going to be.”

She took a sharp breath. She didn’t know whether she is feeling jealousy or shame. After a few seconds, she decided that it is jealousy she is feeling.

“Troy, do you wish that she was your girlfriend instead of me?”

Troy didn’t answer for a while.

Ooopppsss! It’s not a good time to take a deep breath and think, is it, Troy?

“What are you talking about, Adrienne? Are you jealous of Kimberly? Is it because she’s getting a lot of attention and you are not? If you are, then don’t let it out on me! It’s not my fault that your sister is doing great in med school and
that she might have a better career than you! What are all these questions about, anyway?”

“I’m just asking, Troy. I just don’t particularly feel that you see the best in me!” She argued.

“What is there to see?” He said blatantly. “I love you. But if you want my honesty, yes, I am not particularly proud of your chosen career. And I think you could do better.

Alright? I’ll talk to you when you’re in the proper frame of mind.”

Then, he hung up.

Adrienne stood there for a while, crying. She wanted to hurl the cordless phone across her living room. She felt that nobody appreciates her, and yet she has done
nothing but try her best to please them. She has been goody-two-shoes because she thought that would make her mother proud. Because she thought that is what Kimberly
is going to do.

Troy was her boyfriend because it made her mother happy. Now, standing there in the middle of her living room, she began to ask herself, did she really agree to go out with
Troy because she found him interesting and funny and nice? Is he her type of guy in the first place? Does he make her happy the way she deserved to be? Or was he her boyfriend because he fits the wh0le make-your-mama-
proud charade that she has been keeping up with for more than a decade of her life?

Now, she realized that she never did anything much to make herself happy. She was always looking out after other people’s happiness. People who seemed like they do not give a shilling about what pleases her. All her efforts
seemed futile though.

She look at herself in the mirror. She was dressed in a pair of skintight jeans and a white Sabrina blouse. She tied her hair in a ponytail. Her glasses were tear-stained.

She didn’t wear what she brought home from work. Jacob arranged for something for her to wear to Gypsys. He took it from the collection of expensive clothes they use for their
photo shoots.

She took off her p-nts and her blouse. She opened the box that Jacob gave her. She took a pair of black Armani skirt. It hugged her h¡ps to perfection. It fell six inches above her knees and highlighted her long legs. Jacob packed in a red halter top for her. It clings to her body through five narrow strings. One is tied around her neck and the other four crisscrossed on her back. She didn’t wear any b-ra. The blouse didn’t allow it. She put on a pair of boots that goes
all the way up under her knees. She stared at herself. She looked different. She had to admit that Jacob has flair. She looked hot as hell. She got rid of her pony tail and combed her long straight hair. She put on black eye shadow and mascara. She accented her high cheekbones with a rosy pink blush and put on red l¡pstick. She took the big white gold hoop earrings and the glittery bracelet and matching necklace with a long dangling pendant that Jacob arranged with the outfit.

When she was done, she smiled at herself. She looked like a she-devil out to hunt for blood. She looked hot and for the first time, she felt beautiful. She placed some bills, her phone and credit card in the glittery red purse that Jacob
sent along with the rest of her costume.

She hailed a cab and went to Gypsys. She decided that she doesn’t care anymore. She has tried her best and so far her mother and Troy have never looked at her differently. She
will never be as great as Kimberly, and they will never Mrespect her as much as they respect her, so why die trying?

For now, she want to feel free. She wants to do something adventurous for herself. She knew that she had spirit when she was in her teens. Her mother was quick to water the fire in her. Now, she wants that spirit in,side her and will it
to come out. Even for just one night.

She decided she doesn’t want to be prim and proper just for tonight. She wanted to explore. Be free. Be wild! She decided to unleash the spirit she had that is scre-ming to be free. She doesn’t want her mother scre-ming in her ears telling her that she should be like her sister. She doesn’t want her boyfriend to tell her that she is nothing like her sister.

She went to Gypsys on a mission. She silently thanked Jada for insisting she wear something daring. She wanted to k-ss Jacob for knowing the perfect timing and the perfect outfit.

She danced, she drank. She didn’t care that she was alone. She felt free. She felt beautiful. She is not just doing this to come up with the perfect article for Gypsy’s grand opening. She is doing this for herself.

Just when she was ordering her third tequila shot, a handsome guy paid for it at the counter saying, “I didn’t know you were a tequila type.”

Her eyes went wide. She knows him. In fact, she felt that she knew him well somehow. And now, he doesn’t have his shades on. She saw instantly that his eyes were crystal blue. Just like she thought they should be.

“I’m not.” She said nonchalantly.

“What happened to your eyeglasses?” He asked coolly.

Her eyebrow shot up. “Excuse me? Do we know each other?” She asked him pretending that she has never seen him before in her entire life.

His l-ips curved in a half-smile. He extended his hand, “Justin Adams. You almost crushed me this afternoon when you were going out of your boss’s office.”

She just stared at his extended hand. “Nice to meet you Justin Adams.” She said and turned away to drink her tequila straight up. She felt the world shake a bit, but she was too proud to show it. It was her first tequila trip and she doesn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of Justin Adams.

He pulled back his hand and motioned the waiter to get him a beer. Amusement was all over his face.

“Nice to meet you too, Adrienne Miller.” He said without looking at her.

She stared at him in disbelief. He knew her name!

“Excuse me! How do you know my name?” She asked.

He turned to her with a feigned bemused look on his face. “One. I like your name. Two. You were the snobbest girl in Blush. Three. You’re my new next door neighbor, who never had visitors, never watches TV, never played loud
music in the house, least of all dance across her living room, and turns off her lights at exactly 10PM.”

She was shocked! Now, she felt like she was being stalked! By the most eligible bachelor a.k.a the most notorious rake of New York, no less! Does he know that she was watching him all the time? Has he seen her? I would die if he did! She thought, thankful that she already
felt tipsy and could already be having a pinkish complexion due to the tequila that he wouldn’t be able to tell that she was blushing to death.
He had his eyebrows raised, in pure amusement. She could see that his eyes were dancing in laughter.

“Oh yeah! You’re that guy who always parties at your house, turns on your plasma and home theater so loud as if you were the only tenant in the building, and when your house is quiet, it means poker night, and I cannot tell exactly when your lights will be on or off!” She said squarely.

“See? So you do know me.” He smiled smugly.

“hærdly!” She said irritably.

He took one gulp of his beer.
“Wanna dance?” He asked.

She almost gasped. He introduced himself to her, told her what he knows about her, so far, they have exchanged more than ten sentences to each other and now, he is asking her
to dance! She raised a brow at him, then she stood up from her seat and went to the dance floor.

He followed her. She smiled to herself and thought that her night of freedom couldn’t be more exciting. What could be a better addition to her rebellion than flirting with the city’s
most eligible, most sought-after, and most notorious bachelor?

Their dance went s€×ier. There was no need for words. Before she knew it, she had her arms around his neck and her body close to him the way it had never been close to any stranger before, except earlier that afternoon when she
bumped into him.

She was drunk and practically throwing herself at him. He put his own hands in her unclad back and she could barely contain electrifying thrill that radiated from his fingertips to her spine.

She left him at the dance floor without a word for another shot of tequila. He followed her and ordered another beer.
They sat on the bar, this time closer to each other. She drank her tequila without taking her eyes off him. He took a gulp of his beer staring at her like she was her latest prey. She didn’t care. Now, she realized why her friends said that flirting is a mind game. They sat there staring at each other. Their eyes holding out unspoken challenges.

She laughed and went to stand between his legs as he sat in the bar stool. He pulled her closer by her wa-ist. She put her arms around his neck. The world is really reeling! He leaned down his face on hers and stopped to see if she will meet him halfway.

Oh what the hell! She thought. This is her night of fun. Her night of assuming an identity that is not really hers. And the fact that Justin Adams is flirting with her on the night that she decided to explore other territories unknown to her made everything perfect. And so she did meet him halfway.

He k-ssed her gently—which almost shocked her. She didn’t expect Justin Adams to k-ss gently. He was a rogue. A rake! He was not built to be gentle. But he took her l-ips softly… it was more rom-ntic than passionate, much to her
surprise. Then he looked at her deep in the eyes, drowning her, while his hands car-ssed her spine. It was electrocuting.

She giggled nervously. Then she went to the dancefloor again where he followed her as if she was his latest pursuit. When she got tired of dancing, which looked more like flirting anyway, she took another tequila spin.

“I need to go to the ladies’ room.” She said and she left him on his seat. She went to the ladies’ room without looking back at him. She doesn’t want to feel that she was too eager or flattered towards his attention. She doesn’t want him to think that he is one of those girls drooling for his attention.

She was flushed when she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was straight and wild behind her back. Her eyes were glittering. Her l-ips were red. Her cheeks were flushed. She liked the way she looked. It was like she doesn’t recognize the girl staring back at her. She looks foxy! And Justin Adams just k-ssed her!

She went out of the ladies’ room smiling to herself. For the first time in her life, she felt that she was s€×y. She felt that her colors were unleashed. She was glowing! And Justin Adams just showed some interest in her!
She was surprised to see Justin outside the ladies’ room. He was leaning on the wall, with his arms crossed on his chest. Was he waiting for her?

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Waiting for you.” He replied curtly.

“Why?”

“Just wanna make sure you make it back.” He smiled almost angelically.

“I got here by myself. Of course I can make it back!” She said in the haughtiest tone she could manage.

He shrugged and smiled innocently. “Just wanna make sure that you make your way back to me then.”

Major flirt! She thought. But when she turned around she was smiling widely. She was a novice in this game of flirting. But nevertheless, she thought, he couldn’t eat her alive! She can even win this!

They went back to the dance floor, and most of the time, they were hugging each other. Many times, he would brush his l-ips to hers. Provoking her. Teasing her. Until she gave in and he gave her one deep k-ss.

She felt that things are getting hotter. She hadn’t thought about her mother nor Troy. As the evening wears on, she is becoming more and more sinful! And she is enjoying every
single minute of it! She knew she will always have a smile on her face when she calls this memory to her mind.

He wasn’t touching her lower than her spine. It was just car-ssing and k-ssing, which made him more attractive that night. She thinks she would be turned off he touched her lower than that. It was as if he knew she needed to feel a
little bit loose, but still she had to keep that level of respect to herself. And he was slowly easing her, guiding her in her flirtation, until she would feel comfortable and trusting.
God, he was a pro!

She had seven shots of tequila. Seven shots of insanity. And she felt she has accomplished a great deal for herself in just one night. She loved the way she felt. She was tipsy, but she felt more like floating away. She has never known a more enjoyable night out. She didn’t even imagine that it would be the night she went on her own. She felt that she was wearing a mask all the time… living someone else’s life… stealing someone else’s identity. If Justin didn’t know her previously, she would have given him a different name.

“Thanks for the drinks.” She told him. And then she turned to hail a cab. She didn’t wait for him to ask for her number. Fat chance! She thought. Guys like Justin Adams engage in flirtations for a moment and forget about the girl the next.
She doesn’t want to make him to think that she was not immune to his charms. That she was expecting more than a s€×y dance, or a hot k-ss. She wanted to dump him before he dumps her.

“Hey.” He called. “Need a lift?” He asked.

She stared at him and lifted a brow.
“In what?” She asked.

He pointed at his Ducati motorcycle.

“No thanks! I’m not too drunk. Have a great evening.” She said and turned away from him.

“Come on. It’s not like Mommy’s going to see you or something.” He teased.

It was the right joke to get her to do anything he wants her to do now. She stared at him coldly. God! Can he read her mind? He sounded like he knows exactly which buttons to push! Does he have a flaw at all? She grabbed the helmet from his hand and went beside his bike.

He mounted it and she mounted behind him making sure, her skirt doesn’t go all the way up to her wa-ist.
She placed her hand on his shoulders and braced herself for the ride. He started the engine. But before he took off, he took her hand and placed it in his abdomen.

“It’s safer this way, okay?” She heard him say, so she hugged him from behind as they took off. They were driving fast and she felt nervous. She held on to him tighter and she
rested her head on his back. She thought, this would be a perfect ending to her perfect rebellion. Dressing up wildly. Drinking bravely. Flirting sinfully. And riding freely.

She may be scared at first, but she felt safe no matter how fast they went. This is her first motorcycle ride. And she rode it with Justin Adams no less. He parked his motorcycle in front of their building. He took her hand and guided her to mount off the bike. She waited for him to get off and they went in,side the elevator together. Justin pressed their floor number. She stood on the corner opposite him. She was just staring at him. Her hands on her side. She was gripping her purse tightly, nervously. He was looking at her deeply with his crystal blue eyes, which, she thought has strangely turned a darker shade. His arms crossed on his chest.

Her world was spinning. Because of the tequila trip and the motorcycle ride, perhaps. But most importantly, she knew it was because of the stare he is giving her now, drowning
her in the blue of his eyes. And then it happened. They met each other halfway. Both
of them lunged forward at the same time,where l-ips met l-ips in one passionate, head-spinning k-ss. This time, he wasn’t very gentle anymore. This time, he was demanding. He was the rake he was known to be. And yet something
about him and k-sses made her feel like she doesn’t need to be scared.

It was like she felt cared for and lusted for at the same time. And that made her feel drawn to him even more.

They heard the ting! That told them they are on their floor. They didn’t stop k-ssing each other. He held on to her and
k-ssed her as they both head towards their flats.

It was three in the morning, they didn’t care. The world stopped and they can’t seem to get enough of this k-ss. He pinned her between a door and his hærd body. She didn’t know which door that was and she hoped the owners didn’t hear the slam of her body against it.

He kept k-ssing her. One hand went to the small of her back and the other car-ssing her nape.
She felt like all of the veins in her body are alive with thrill
and emotion. She had her arms around his neck. She is k-ssing him back. And enjoying it! She is matching his k-sses with her own, teasing him with her tongue.

The door opened behind her and she almost fell over but he was already holding her by the wa-ist. k-ssing her, he her in,side. Their l-ips never left each other.

He began k-ssing her on the neck where all sorts of s-nsations shot up from her spine. She let out a mo-n of pleasure. He kept k-ssing her, holding her, at the same time, she felt
herself walking backwards to where he was leading her.

He was nuzzling her neck when she felt something soft hit the back of her knees and she fell backwards. He let her fall into his bed. And he fell on top of her pinning her between
the soft cushions and his hærd body.

She had completely lost her senses. She wrapped her armsaround his neck and k-ssed him back. She didn’t feel him undressing. All she could think about are his arms and his k-sses. When she put her hands against his chest, she felt his skin. Smooth. hærd. Male.

“I want you.” He whispered hoarsely against her l-ips.

She was completely lost. She wasn’t thinking. All she could think about is this glorious Adonis, whose arms are around her, whose l-ips are k-ssing her and sending shivers down her spine.

She didn’t know when she lost her boots. All she knew was that she was pushed up further into the bed. And when Justin fell on top of her again, she felt the shock of her own skin touching his. Her pink tips touching his hærd chest, followed by his k-sses. She felt intoxicated, drugged out of her senses. She didn’t know that this is possible at all.

He continued k-ssing her neck and he went down further until he felt his l-ips brush one pink tip. She mo-ned. When he took in the wh0le peak, she almost scre-med.
She experienced emotions she didn’t know she was capable of. For twenty six years of her life, she felt caged. Like she has been hiding herself in a box that never allowed her to feel anything beyond normal. And now, she felt free. And she thirsts. She hungers.

Justin k-ssed her again on the l-ips. Drugging her even more, until she demands more, to feel more, to have more.

“I want more…” He whispered in her ear, as if he had just read her last thoughts.

“Justin…” She whispered his name.

“I want you…” He said in a hoarse voice.

She mo-ned once again.

“If you want this to stop, now is the time.” He said.

She opened her eyes, and she realized that he’s stopped k-ssing her. He was looking at her face in eyes drunk with passion and wanting.
She was still pinned between his soft mattresses and his hærd body. He is giving her a chance to turn back. To stopwhat is bound to happen. Or to go further and be lost…

She reached up and touched his l-ips with her fingertips. He turned sideways and k-ssed her palm. And then he looked back at her, waiting for her to make that decision.

She stared at his handsome face. His crystal blue eyes are dark with passion. He is devastatingly handsome. She knew just by looking back at him that she couldn’t utter the
word no. Because right now, she feels that if going to bed with this devil is the prize to claim, then she would blissfully live as a sinner.

She does want to feel more. And she wants this dangerous man… those devilish eyes… nothing less! She giggled and nuzzled his ear, and then she whispered,

“I want you…” before she could stop the words from coming out of her l-ips.

And the world turned upside down. As soon as the wordswere out, he took her mouth again in another passionate k-ss.

He was out of his p-nts in less than one minute. She felt her own uncladness when she felt him touch her in her most
intimate part. Her eyes w¡dened when she felt her own wetness. Her own arousal.

A mo-n of pleasure escaped her l-ips. He fished a c-ndom somewhere and she felt cold when her own body lost contact of his. She yearned for more.

“Justin, please…” She begged.

Then he was back on top of her. He k-ssed her, as his knees nudged her thighs to open w¡der.
She took a deep breath. She was ready. She was waiting. She was yearning.

“Open your eyes, Adrienne.” He said softly. She opened her eyes.

“I want you to look at me when I make love to you.” He said.

She nodded, excitement shooting from every part of her body. And slowly, she felt him at her entrance. She took a deep breath. There is no turning back for her. And she knew that this could be a sin she would never regret committing.

Her family and Troy, even her friends, are miles away from her mind. She anticipated what is going to happen.

And then it did.

She closed her eyes and a squirm escaped her l-ips as she felt a tearing pain. Her arms flew to his neck and she hugged him to her, as if the pain will go away, with the feel of him close to her.

“Oh shit!” He cursed softly.

He knew. She forgot. They were caught up in a web of passion and he tore into her maidenhead without knowingthat it was still intact. And she didn’t know how they could
go on without the pain that seemed unbearable.

He looked down at her. There were tears rolling down her cheeks. He wiped them with his thumb and then hehugged her to him, kept her closer and warmer. Then he k-ssed her in the l-ips gently.

“I’m sorry.” He said. Then he felt him withdraw very gently. The pain is still there. He reached down and she felt him touch his own arousal. She didn’t know why. Andthen he k-ssed her again very passionately and yet with so much care.

She felt warm and at the same time, still ar-used. And then she felt him again at her entrance and slowly he entered her.

She felt another tearing pain, but it was very gentle compared to the first one. And looking at her deeply, hethr-sted slowly… she was surprised that the pain was ebbing. And she felt more excited. He k-ssed her. Until she felt the urgency and the yearning she felt a while ago… this time stronger. Like a tide that is sweeping her away from the shore. She felt his own urgency. She felt the madness taking over him… and she realized it has taken
over her as well. He thr-sted faster and faster, all the timetrying hærd to be gentle… until she felt unfamiliar sparks shooting from everywhere. And she let out a scre-m of
pleasure that she hasn’t experienced before. She shivered. He caught her mouth and swallowed her scre-ms in his k-sses. When it was over, he thr-sted faster until she felt him pull himself out of her and he buried his face in the mass of her hair and she felt his body rock.

When it was over he looked down at her deeply. His l-ips curved in a half smile and then his mouth descended towards hers.

After the k-ss, neither of them said a word. He stood up and turned on his bedside lamp. For the first time, she saw him fully unclad. She swallowed. She realized, as well, that for the first time, she was unclad in front of a man. Hell!

She’s never even been unclad in front of Jill.
He went to his closet. When he returned he was holding a blanket in his hand.
She was uncertain of what is going to happen next. For thefirst time that night, she felt a little embarrassed. She felt her confidence wavering.

He took her hand and pulled her up and caught her by the wa-ist. He k-ssed her again, passionately, drugged her again,
until there was no choice for her but to wrap her arms around him and k-ss him back.

Then he pulled away the blanket they made love in, which she noticed to her horror was filled with blood and something else—she knew what it was. She took a deep breath. The world was still reeling. She still wasn’tthinking straight. She was still drunk from the seven shots of tequila she took and the drug of his lovemaking.

He threw the new set of blankets over the bed and then he laid down on it and pulled her to him.

They laid there for a while. Not saying anything. Her head was resting comfortably in his shoulders. He had one hand rested on her wa-ist. The other under his head. When she looked up, he was staring at her with his crystal blue eyes that seem to drown her every time she stares at them.

“What?” She asked.

“I’m sorry.” He said gently. “I didn’t know…”

She put a finger in his l-ips. “Sshh!” She said. “It’s okay.”

“Do you still hurt?” He asked.

She shook her head.

They were quiet for a while. Each of them lost in their own thoughts. She looked up at him again. He looked back at her. Then he smiled.

“It was an amazing night.” He whispered. “I’m… I’m sorry I caused you pain, though.”

She smiled. “One man is bound to do so one day.”

He chuckled softly. “Then I feel so damn lucky it had to be me. But trust me, honey, that’s the only pain I will be causing you.”

You’re right! Because I don’t want anything to do with you after tonight! You couldn’t hurt me when I walk out that door and never look back, she promised herself.

“Good night, Adrienne.” He said, and then he leaned down and k-ssed her l-ips gently. He turned of the lights and wrapped his arms around her.

She closed her eyes, thinking, this was a dream… a dream she would call to her memory everytime, she will feel very low in self-esteem. She would treasure this night… even if it will be but just a dream.

A minute later, she was sound asleep. He k-ssed her on the forehead and closed his eyes.

When he woke up, she was gone. He looked around his room looking for any sign of her. There was none.

He sat on his bed, unclad. She didn’t leave anything. Except for her memory, and her scent that he still can smell when he laid back on his bed, right in the s₱0t where she slept. The same s₱0t where she lost herself for the first time with a man… and that man was him… He looked at the blanketon the floor. It was tainted with her blood. Lost innocence.

He smiled.

She was a V-rgin. She just did a one nightstand. He couldn’t understand why he spent the wh0le night with her. Why he didn’t send her home. He has never spent thenight with a woman in his entire life. It was one of thethings that he thought usually leads to expectations and
commitments. He doesn’t need that in his life. He didn’tknow why he waited for her to sleep first and then heallowed himself to sleep with her in his arms, breathing in the scent of her skin, and her hair, which smelled like wild
strawberries. He didn’t understand, but he felt drawn to her